Art historian shares 'The Glory of the Gothic' at Porter Library

by Maria Fesz

Sean Crum discusses the various characteristics of gothic architecture. Photo by Maria Fesz

On Tuesday, May 16, the Westlake-Westshore Arts Council hosted art historian Sean Crum, who presented a thrilling program titled “The Glory of the Gothic: The Great Gothic Cathedrals." Mr. Crum transported the audience to France, then England and Italy, to discover the art and architecture behind these amazing structures.

The crowd learned about tracery, sculpture and the making of stained glass. Not only did Mr. Crum talk about the features of the cathedrals and the technique behind their construction, he also delved into the historical and religious aspects of the cathedral in the gothic age.

The presentation was complete with pictures of floor plants, diagrams and photos of the cathedrals at different angles to get the full effect of these grandiose structures. Mr. Crum was an enthusiastic and engaging speaker who drew the audience in with his seemingly endless wealth of knowledge of history, religion and art.

Maria Fesz

I am a Music and Art Specialist Librarian at Westlake Porter Public Library and the library liaison to the Westlake-Westshore Arts Council.